| A crossword editor has to be very careful when changing one--unlike this puzzle's editor, who was careless four times herein |
| Time's 2007 "Invention of the Year |
| First word across in the first-ever crossword (1913) and the first of a dozen appearances of the word in this puzzle's grid, written word search-style (left, right, down, and diagonally) ... Can you f |
| All, e.g., for this answer's last six letters? |
| Activity suggested by this puzzle's theme entries |
| A billion years |
| Annual cause of losing an hr.'s sleep hidden in this puzzle's 10 longest answers |
| Partially obscured (and a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| Alternative title of this puzzle, in view of what can be placed in front of the answers to the 10 asterisked clues |
| Story of a Ping-Pong champ's retirement years? |
| Celebrating the New Year in different time zones, for example |
| Allen Dulles headed it for eight years under D.D.E. |
| Video game that comes out today (9/9/09), whose songs/levels are referenced in this puzzle, with "The |
| Nights before Christmas and New Year's Day |
| Alternate title for this crossword? |
| Yearn (after) |
| Dish dubbed "the greatest recipe to originate from the Americas in 50 years" by the International Society of Epicures in 1953 |
| Bothersome phrase indicating a show randomly won't air again until next year |
| Agriculture giant celebrating its 175th anniversary this year |
| Lobbying group formed fifteen years after TMI |
| Asleep ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| A Journal of the Plague Year" author |
| Alternative words used as alternatives for each other in this puzzle's theme answers |
| ___ Awards (show hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood this year): Abbr. |
| A billion years (Var.) |
| Give Schweppes Ginger ___ try!" (brilliant soda slogan I just made up) (this clue dedicated to the great Merl Reagle, the master of saving weak entries; RIP, Merl) |
| A genus of shell-less snails was named after this noblewoman |
| Contract extras, and read differently, a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| James who died three years before winning a Pulitzer |
| This (girl), to Brutus |